Information
Landmark: Delma Island (Dalma Island)City: Abu Dhabi
Country: United Arab Emirates
Continent: Asia
Delma Island (Dalma Island), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates , Asia
Overview
Delma Island-also known as Dalma-stands as one of the UAE’s oldest inhabited islands, where weathered coral-stone houses, vibrant traditions, and sweeping sea views keep Abu Dhabi’s maritime heritage alive.Just 42 kilometers off Abu Dhabi’s coast, this quiet hideaway lets you step into the traditional Emirati way of life, where the air smells of the sea and the city’s noise feels a world away.Historical and cultural significance, for example, the worn steps of an ancient temple.Delma Island has been home to people for more than 7,000 years, with stone tools and pottery shards marking it as one of the oldest settlements in the UAE.Archaeologists have dug up stone tools, clay pots, and signs of early trade-like beads from far-off lands-linking the site to Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization.Before oil was found, the island was at the heart of the region’s pearl diving trade, where boats set out at dawn and returned with nets heavy from the sea.Number two.The Pearl Diving Legacy - for generations, Delma Island bustled as a center of pearl fishing, its clear blue waters yielding some of the world’s most flawless gems.The island’s people made their living diving for pearls and trading them, their hands rough from long hours in the saltwater.Today, visitors wander through the island’s maritime past, stepping into weathered boathouses and hearing locals share tales handed down for generations.Three.Al Muraykhi House is a carefully restored Emirati home, where carved wooden doors and worn stone floors bring the island’s history and architecture to life.At Delma Museum, you can explore exhibits that bring the island’s pearl diving and trade history to life, from glinting oyster shells to weathered merchant ledgers.Ancient Mosques: Among the UAE’s oldest, their arches and domes echo centuries of Islamic design.Natural beauty and local attractions, like the quiet curve of a pine-framed lake.The island’s ringed with soft, golden sand and water so clear you can see shells glinting beneath the surface, perfect for unwinding or snapping a stunning coastal shot.It’s not unusual to spot dolphins gliding through the waves, and the waters here teem with other marine life.Number two.On the island, jagged rock formations rise beside sweeping sand dunes and ancient fossil beds, revealing a wilder, unexpected side of the UAE’s natural beauty.Ideal for hiking and wandering down quiet trails where the air smells of pine.Three.Unlike most of the UAE, Delma Island has its own freshwater wells, so farmers can grow crops and tend date palms under the bright desert sun.Visitors can wander past traditional farms, the kind that have kept island families fed for generations, with rows of green stretching toward the sea.On Delma Island, wander through history at Al Muraykhi House, then step inside the cool, quiet halls of the Delma Museum.Step inside the old mosques and take in the carved stone arches that reveal the beauty of early Islamic architecture.Stretch out on the island’s warm, quiet sand and leave the noisy mainland far behind.Explore ancient fossils and weathered rock formations, each telling a story of the region’s long, layered past.Get a feel for local Emirati life by chatting with the island’s residents, maybe over a cup of strong, cardamom-scented coffee.To reach Delma Island, catch the ferry from Jebel Dhanna Port; the trip takes about an hour and a half to two hours, with sea air whipping past as you cross.By plane: The island has a tiny airport, with just a handful of flights coming in from Abu Dhabi.So why visit Delma Island?It’s a historical and cultural treasure, its roots stretching back thousands of years, like worn stone steps smoothed by countless feet.Tucked far from the city’s noise, this quiet retreat invites you to unwind, the air scented with pine.It’s a rare blend of heritage, wild landscapes, and thrilling adventures-ideal for history buffs and curious explorers who might pause to trace carvings on an old stone wall.It’s one of the last true Emirati island communities, where the scent of grilled fish drifts past wooden dhows and traditions still shape daily life.On Delma Island, time seems to pause-you can wander its quiet shores and catch the faint scent of salt on the breeze while discovering the UAE’s rich maritime and pearl-diving heritage in a setting that still feels untouched.
